Crime, as well as narcissism and depression, are symptoms of a 'hole in the self.' But what is it? Where does it come from? And how does one deal with it? Kurt Theodor Oehler explains the emergence and development of the 'hole in the self' before addressing how to cope with this new 'common illness.' He vividly demonstrates that denial and repression are of little use. Substitute structures, such as nationalist-racist ideologies, fundamentalist-religious beliefs, esoteric-irrational fantasies, or extremist-aggressive theories cannot fill the 'hole in the self.' The only sustainable treatment consists of individual effort and professional help. For this, the author provides numerous concrete suggestions and examples of methods.